The Hertog Center

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The Roger and Susan Hertog Center for the Archaeological Study of Jerusalem and Judah

The archaeological research of Jerusalem and Judah fascinates millions of people around the world, mainly due to the importance of this region since the early days of Judaism and Christianity and its prominence in Muslim tradition. The region has been explored by numerous scholars specializing in different fields, such as history, biblical studies, Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, Islam, and ancient art. Archaeology plays a special role in this regard, as it enables a concrete reconstruction of the reality in which these cultures developed, offering a unique scholarly point of view. Furthermore, archaeology contributes valuable primary data to other disciplines when inscriptions or other material evidence is found that sheds new light on life in the periods under discussion.

The Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been engaged in the study of Jerusalem and its environs since the 1930s. The generous support of the Hertog family has facilitated the foundation of the Roger and Susan Hertog Center for the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Judah at the Institute of Archaeology. The Center promotes the archaeological study of the region through four main initiatives:

(1) Supporting new field projects, such as surveys and excavations.

(2) Supporting publication of past excavations.

(3) Providing scholarships for outstanding M.A., Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral students at the Institute of Archaeology for the study Jerusalem and Judah (in any period).

(4) Holding an international conference on topics of interest concerning Jerusalem and Judah (annually or bi-annually).

Open calls for partaking in the various initiatives appear on this webpage as they are released.

Call for applicants 2024: Applications must be uploaded to the online application system no later than 20.8.2023.

 For more information

Committee Members

Prof. Yosef Garfinkel (chair)

Prof. Uzi Leibner (head of academic committee)

Prof. Leore Grosman

Dr. Naama Yahalom-Mack

Dr. Ronnie Goldstein (Bible department)

Hertog Scholarship Recipients:

2020–2021

Liat Oz (MA Student)

Azriel Yechezkel (PhD Student)

Igor Kreimerman (Postdoctoral Fellow)

2019–2020

Azriel Yechezkel (PhD Student)

Itamar Weissbein (PhD Student)

Matthew Susnow (Postdoctoral Fellow)

Supported Projects

2021

Debora Ben-Ami – The masculine representation in the kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem during the Iron Age

Asaf Ben Haim – Architectural Decoration at Herodium

Uri Davidovich – The Oasis of Qaneh (Ghweir) and Samar (Tarabe) Springs, western Dead Sea shore, during the Iron Age

Michael Freikman – Excavations at the “Hill of Sixteen” in Giv’at Ze’ev

Yosef Garfinkel and Ortal Harush

Hillel Geva – Publication of the Finds from the Palatial Mansion in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem

Malka Hershkovitz and Shua Amorai-Stark

Igor Kreimerman – The Tell Beit Mirsim Excavation Project

Ravit Nenner-Soriano – Publication of the Metal Objects from Masada

Orit Peleg-Barkat – Back to the Jewish Quarter: The ‘Gan HaMisgav’ Excavation Project

Naama Sharabi – Publication of the Fresco and Stucco finds from Herodium

Micka Ullman – Field Survey of Karstic Caves in the Region of Jerusalem and Judah

Azriel Yechezkel – Analytical dating of the Shaft Tunnel of the Biyar Aqueduct

2020

Orit Peleg-Barkat – Back to the Jewish Quarter: The ‘Gan HaMisgav’ Excavation Project

Uri Davidovich – The Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age of the Judean Desert Cliff Caves – New Studies

Yosef Garfinkel – The 10th Century in the Judean Shephelah

Judit Gartner – Publication of the Pottery Finds from the Theater at Herodium

Oren Gutfeld, Michal Haber and Pablo Betzer – The Beit Lehi Regional Project

Hillel Geva – Publication of the finds from the Palatial Mansion in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem

Yoav Farhi –Roman Period Clay Tokens from Jerusalem

Uzi Leibner – Khirbet Ghurabeh: An Unknown Fortified Site in the Judean Lowlands

Yael Max – The Masada Glass Project

Adi Ziv and Dr. Naama Yahlom-Mack –Late Roman Lead Coffins from Jerusalem: Technological Aspects and Origins of Raw Materials